Infectious Diseases Research highlights
KAIMRC Innovations highlights the most exciting research taking place at the different research centers in KAIMRC. The research highlights are informative articles that cover breakthrough research and are accessible to the wider science community and a general audience interested in science. With regular weekly updates, this is the place to keep up with the best clinical and medical research happening at KAIMRC and around the world.
KAIMRC Research Highlight
Genetic clues to better tackle SARS-CoV-2
December 20, 2021
Spike protein gene sequences could help control the novel coronavirus epidemic
International Research Highlight
Reviewing rapid COVID-19 tests
November 22, 2021
Point-of-care tests offer speed and practicality over lab-based PCR testing, with some caveats.
Feature
ChAdOx1: More than a coronavirus vaccine
September 27, 2021
At the core of a COVID-19 vaccine is a highly-adaptable technology with the potential to protect against a range of viruses.
KAIMRC Research Highlight
MERS remains prevalent in camels in Saudi Arabia
September 2, 2021
A survey of slaughterhouses in Riyadh reveals continued risk of zoonotic transmission
Feature
Vaccines vs variants: An ongoing race
September 1, 2021
What does the rapid spread of SARS-CoV-2 variants that affect vaccine potency mean for the fight against COVID-19?
KAIMRC Research Highlight
Better animal models for COVID-19 needed
July 29, 2021
The lack of severe illness in animal models of COVID-19 suggests a wide gap between the disease in humans and animal models.
International Research Highlight
Optimizing influenza vaccines to harness pre-existing immunity
July 22, 2021
Understanding how immune cells respond to natural infection compared with vaccination demonstrates how vaccines could broader immunity
International Research Highlight
COVID-19 impact does not end with hospital discharge
July 8, 2021
Hospital discharge could still mean a long way to full recovery for severe COVID-19 patients
International Research Highlight
DNA sequencing accelerates infection diagnosis
July 1, 2021
Detection of pathogenic genetic material in body fluids could speed up treatment of serious infections
Feature
A Triumph For Science: Hastening the race toward a COVID-19 vaccine
June 28, 2021
An unprecedented international response by researchers, funders and regulators made it possible to develop COVID-19 vaccines in record time
KAIMRC Research Highlight
Charting antibiotic resistance in circulating bacterial strains
June 10, 2021
Sequencing Klebsiella pneumoniae strains from a Riyadh hospital highlights genes that confer resistance to multiple antibiotics
Feature
Fighting the pandemic on all fronts
May 31, 2021
KAIMRC is at the forefront of the nation’s fight against COVID-19 by ramping up coronavirus research, says Naif Alharbi, one of Saudi Arabia’s leading virologists.
KAIMRC Research Highlight
COVID-19 infection rate was low among healthcare workers early in the pandemic
May 12, 2021
Masks, lockdown and vigilance attributed for curbing infection rates among healthcare workers across Saudi Arabia.
Feature
Hidden immune failure in severe COVID-19 cases
April 26, 2021
Two studies find that genetic anomalies and autoimmune antibodies dampen the immune response in severely ill COVID-19 patients.
KAIMRC Research Highlight
Multidrug resistant Klebsiella pneumoniae found in Saudi patient
March 31, 2021
Cases of a worrying form of multidrug resistant bacterial infection have been detected in Saudi Arabia
Feature
The case for masks in combatting COVID-19
March 29, 2021
Specific studies assessing face masks and COVID-19 transmission are limited, but related scientific evidence suggests that even simple fabric masks can make a difference
KAIMRC Research Highlight
Uptick in lab-confirmed seroprevalence of MERS infections
March 24, 2021
A trend of increasing MERS prevalence has been detected in a West Saudi Arabian population after testing more than 7,000 samples.
International Research Highlight
AI algorithms for rapid coronavirus diagnosis
February 3, 2021
Researchers use advanced deep learning models to create an AI system that can help identify COVID-19 in minutes.
International Research Highlight
Investigating COVID-19
immune responses
January 20, 2021
An in-depth analysis of the COVID-19 immune response offers new tools to clinicians.
International Research Highlight
Uncovering
trends in antibiotic consumption
January 6, 2021
Study assesses global antibiotic consumption patterns over a 15-year period.
KAIMRC Research Highlight
Knowledge gaps over treating severe respiratory infections
December 30, 2020
Researchers call for trials to investigate the efficacy of treatments for severe respiratory viral infections.
International Research Highlight
T cells recognize the
COVID-19 virus before and after infection
November 11, 2020
SARS-CoV-2 triggers a strong T cell-based immune response, but many people already have some cross-reactive immune memory
KAIMRC Research Highlight
A close
look at peritonitis in Saudi Arabia
October 7, 2020
Identifying high rates of peritonitis in children undergoing dialysis at a Saudi hospital will stimulate a strategy for improvement
KAIMRC Research Highlight
High post-surgical
infection levels in Saudi Arabia
September 30, 2020
Antibiotic resistant bacteria are widespread in surgical-site infections in Saudi Arabian hospitals
KAIMRC Research Highlight
Building
on experience: Saudi Arabia’s COVID-19 response
September 23, 2020
The knowledge gained from the MERS-CoV epidemic in Saudi Arabia put the country on a strong early response footing for COVID-19.
KAIMRC Research Highlight
Testing
the spread of MERS in camels
September 16, 2020
A natural infection model provides insights into how MERS spreads among camels and could be valuable in future vaccine trials.
Feature
HIV stem cell therapy: Why it’s too early to declare a cure
March 1, 2020
Gene-editing and stem cell therapy have emerged as promising approaches to the treatment of HIV/AIDS, but ideal recipients are rare
Editorial Corner
Revolutionizing the clinical research landscape in Saudi Arabia
January 26, 2020
Ahmed Alaskar, executive director of KAIMRC, discusses how his institute is spearheading an initiative to develop clinical trials in the kingdom
Feature
KAIMRC a strong player in quest for a MERS-CoV vaccine
January 5, 2020
The medical hub’s research into a single-dose vaccine for the lethal Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus (MERS-CoV) is promising, but more evaluation and trials are needed, scientists say.
KAIMRC Research Highlight
Saudi
Arabia gets familiar with its superbugs
October 22, 2019
First study to examine the antibiotic resistance, virulence factors, and genetic diversity of multidrug-resistant strains in Saudi Arabia
KAIMRC Research Highlight
The rapid journey
of a deadly MERS outbreak
September 24, 2019
Citing an unusual outbreak of the MERS virus involving a ‘superspreader’ patient, scientists urge better point-of-care diagnosis.
KAIMRC Research Highlight
A gracious
host for Middle East respiratory syndrome
August 26, 2019
Kidney tissues could support the growth of Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus.
International Research Highlight
Targeting hepatitis
B virus vulnerabilities
July 8, 2019
Metabolic pathways altered by chronic hepatitis B virus infection may give clues to novel treatment.
KAIMRC Research Highlight
Saudi Arabia
worst hit by MERS
June 17, 2019
A study on the prevalence of MERS-CoV in Gulf Corporation Council countries shows the virus has taken its greatest toll in Saudi Arabia.
KAIMRC Research Highlight
Western
strain of hepatitis C on the rise in Saudi Arabia
March 17, 2019
National efforts to curb transmission are in place to limit the virus’s spread.
International Research Highlight
Genetic make-up and its impact on viral infection
February 12, 2019
A fast and simple approach for analysing people’s genetic make-up and the viruses that infect them could reveal molecular information that can be used to improve prevention and treatment of disease.
International Research Highlight
Investigating immune responses
February 12, 2019
A molecule produced by hepatitis B virus prompts the body’s immune cells to leap into action.
KAIMRC Research Highlight
When liver disease patients fall off the medical radar
February 11, 2019
People with viral hepatitis often do not return for follow-up treatment, highlighting the need for more robust support strategies.
KAIMRC Research Highlight
Antibiotic resistance: Tracking drug sensitivity in E. coli
February 11, 2019
Analyses of E. coli samples from Saudi hospital patients indicate large increases in resistance to first-line antibiotics.
International Research Highlight
In search of strategies to disrupt viral docking
February 11, 2019
Insights into how two viruses initiate the infection of host cells could guide development of countermeasures.
KAIMRC Research Highlight
MERS
virus evades immune responses
September 26, 2017
A single surface protein helps the Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus (MERS-CoV) survive by inhibiting the immune system.
International Research Highlight
Grape-derived
antiviral drug could treat MERS
September 10, 2017
Initial investigations show an antiviral drug, derived from grape and cranberry plants, could also be effective against the virus that causes MERS.
KAIMRC Research Highlight
Potential
for a MERS antibody therapy
April 11, 2017
Patients with Middle East Respiratory Syndrome may produce sufficient antibodies to help fight the viral infection in more recentvictims.
KAIMRC Research Highlight
Mixed
messages on wider effects of vaccines
February 26, 2017
Vaccines against tuberculosis, diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis and measles may have effects on other aspects of health.
International Research Highlight
Hepatitis
B: Predict, treat, avoid
December 16, 2016
A biomarker has been found that can help predict the reactivation of the hepatitis B virus in immunosuppressed patients.
KAIMRC Research Highlight
Preventing flu in kidney
transplant patients
December 16, 2016
A flu shot may also benefit transplant patients under age 65.
International Research Highlight
‘Young blood’ a defence against infection
December 2, 2016
Signatures of a more potent and durable immune response may explain why children fend off chronic hepatitis C infection better than adults.
International Research Highlight
How hepatitis C takes control
November 2, 2016
The hepatitis virus commandeers key cellular machinery to keep itself safe.
KAIMRC Research Highlight
Peptide promise for
diagnostics
August 17, 2016
Rapid diagnosis of HIV may soon be possible thanks to a novel peptide-based diagnostic tool.
International Research Highlight
Hepatitis B poses
lifetime cancer risk
August 14, 2016
Clearance of active hepatitis B virus from the blood does not reduce the risk of liver cancer.
International Research Highlight
First MERS autopsy
yields ‘critical insights’
August 14, 2016
The world’s first autopsy of a patient with Middle East respiratory syndrome shows that the lungs are the infection’s main target.
KAIMRC Research Highlight
Gene tweak induces
stronger immunity
August 14, 2016
Changing the switch that turns on vaccine protein production elicits a stronger immune response against malaria and influenza in mice.
International Research Highlight
Promising protein target
August 11, 2016
A structural analysis of proteins in the Middle East Respiratory Syndrome virus reveals a promising new target for treatments.
International Research Highlight
How
hepatitis C takes control
August 11, 2016
The hepatitis virus commandeers key cellular machinery to keep itself safe.
KAIMRC Research Highlight
Eliminating
risk factors of heart attack
July 8, 2016
Sex has no effect on increasing the risk of a major heart attack for patients with extensive coronary artery disease.